The XE will arrive at Jaguar dealerships in the U.S. in 2016. Stuart Schorr, a Jaguar Land Rover spokesman, said it was "too early" to assign a model-year designation to the compact XE. The production version of the Jaguar XE will be unveiled later this year.

The XE will be the first Jaguar product built on the company's new aluminum architecture that was featured in the Jaguar C-X17 concept car in 2013.

Power will be provided by "a variety of engines" from the automaker's new Ingenium engine line. The flexible architecture fits inline and transverse installations and can be used in rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations.

"The new Jaguar XE is every bit a modern Jaguar car, more compact in size, but visually striking," said Ian Callum, Jaguar design director, in a statement. "Customers will expect a great deal from a compact Jaguar car — it must be practical but premium. We never forget we are designing a Jaguar car, and that means it must be as exciting to look at and drive as it is brilliant to run and practical to own."

Pricing has not been announced.

Edmunds says: Car shoppers should expect a more affordable, fuel-efficient Jaguar sedan, but not for a couple of years.

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